Andy Carroll to West Ham is a good move for everyone

Now on the face of it Liverpool’s season loan of Andy Carroll, the £35m man, may seem stupid to some. Why spend £35m on a striker who isn’t going to make the first, when Chelsea pick up Eden Hazard for £32m? If you look at the deal like that then, yes, it’s stupidity. However in my eyes the deal is good for not only West Ham and Carroll, but Liverpool also.

What does the loan do for Carroll? Well, he’s going to play. That’s for sure. Although it won’t be at Liverpool, where he vowed to fight for his place in the team despite clearing not fitting into Brendan Rodger’s plans. He will be getting game time, which is the most important thing in helping him develop as a player. It’s clear Andy Carroll won’t fit into Brendan Rodgers passing style and will only really get substitute appearances, and is Rodgers to blame? Well, no. He didn’t bring in Andy Carroll and, although some could argue he should try and fit him into the team, he doesn’t have to pick him. When Carroll plays it feels like the whole set-up has to fit around him, with wingers delivering crosses to play to his height advantage. If Rodgers doesn’t want to play this way, which he clearly doesn’t, he doesn’t have to. Nor does he have to play Carroll. I also feel West Ham’s style will suit Andy Carroll. Allardyce is famous for long balls to a target man and Carroll fits this role perfectly. I feel a year at West Ham will be much more beneficial to him than a year on the bench and help him develop as a player. One door closes, another one opens.

What does the loan do for Liverpool? On the face of it, loaning out your third striker and not replacing him is a bad decision. But is that Rodgers fault? He clearly didn’t want to play Carroll, who is much better suited to West Ham’s style of play. It wasn’t Brendan Rodgers fault that the board weren’t willing to fund the Dempsey move, therefore causing the issue with the lack of strikers. Although Liverpool spent a huge amount on Carroll, and the meagre amount they would save from not paying his wages is nowhere near £35m, it is still reducing the wages and saving the club money. Saving money on a player who isn’t going to play and giving him game time at a club where he can develop have to be positive.

What does the loan do for West Ham? I began writing this article straight after the loan move; however I am not finishing it after Carroll’s first game for the Hammers. Despite the injury, which is rumoured to keep him out for a month, Carroll seemed to fit in perfectly. Long balls played to Carroll’s height advantage and Fulham couldn’t seem to handle the big man at times. If Carroll can get back from the injury and show similar performances, I can see West Ham pushing for mid-table and comfortably avoiding relegation.